Convert a Blank Wall Into a Solution

Consider a floor-to-ceiling shelving system that serves multiple purposes. With some strategic design work, you can incorporate a desk space, a TV niche, and storage for toys, decor, or office supplies. If you're a book fan, this is a great way to display your collection. Keeping items neat and organized keeps this space from becoming a catch-all and makes it the centerpiece of your apartment.

Design a Play Area With Colorful Rugs and Cubbies

Create a bright corner for kids with an area rug in pretty pastels or bold rainbow tones. Add portable cubbies in accent colors for easy storage you can quickly stow away when company comes over. Beanbag chairs and tiny sofas give children a cozy space all their own to encourage them to keep toys and books contained.

Craft Nook Fun

Perhaps you're an artist, musician, seamstress or hold another creative talent. It's easier than you might think to create an area dedicated to your passion. It could be as simple as choosing the right accent rug to give the space a creative flair. Oval and round rugs soften the overall impact, especially if you want to blend your hobby area into a larger room. Choose a rug that fits a comfortable chair or stool and your instrument or easel, and all you need is a little inspiration to get started. For crafters, a small desk or table with storage helps keep your supplies and current projects accessible. 

With a little research and inspiration, you can maximize space in our apartments in Flagstaff. If you'd like a look at our floor plans, contact us today to see what's currently available.

The post Using Color to Define Work and Play Areas appeared first on Butterfield Apartments Blog.

Looking to eat better on a budget? Eating great on a dime can be tough, but with these meal prep ideas, you’ll be rocking steady and eating like a king!

Buy Only What You Need

Especially if you live alone, don’t buy in bulk unless you’re sure you’ll eat everything before it goes bad. You might think that buying in bulk saves you money, and it does. But this is true only if you don’t waste it.

Try “Meatless Monday”

Going meatless at least one day of the week isn’t just good for the environment. It’s also good for your bank account. Of all food groups, meat tends to be most expensive, so taking a break from it can save you some cash.

Purchase Seasonal Fruits and Veggies

Avoid buying watermelons in winter and blueberries in spring and you may just save yourself some dough. Seasonal fruits and veggies are not only cheaper; they taste better too!

Learn How to Freeze, Pickle, and Preserve Your Foods

Speaking of seasonal fare, if you can buy in bulk and somehow preserve it, you’ll really be saving money. Pickling preserving, canning, and other techniques for saving food long-term usually only require a small investment in some containers and tools upfront. From there, you’ll have delicious food for a long time to come and save tons of money in the process.

Take Your Lunch to School or Work

Finally, eat out less. Avoid at-school or at-work lunch purchases, and you’ll save a boatload with this tip alone.

Why Not Prep Meals in Your Own New Apartment?

Organize your kitchen just the way you like it when you move into your very own, new apartment in Flagstaff, AZ. Butterfield Apartments in Elk Run offers country club living and stylish, finely-designed Flagstaff apartments to meet all your needs. Find one of our available floor plans that works for you today by giving us a call!

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Area rugs are a great way to add distinction and variety to the decor in your Butterfield apartment in Flagstaff, AZ.  You can bring the country club style of living into your home by using area rugs to add texture, pattern and color. Additionally, when choosing area rugs for different locations in your apartment, the right rug size, shape and material are factors to consider and will depend upon the location of the rug. No matter which shape or texture of rugs you prefer, consider these five ways to decorate with rugs:

5 Ways to Decorate With Rugs

1. Define Areas: The living room seating, the dining room table and the entrance to your apartment are three areas that can be easily defined with an area rug. And for studio apartment living, area rugs are a great way to define the open space.
2. Establish Quiet: Using fabrics throughout your home is one way to absorb sounds from neighbors or outside activity. Yet, area rugs can also be used to quiet the interior decor—softening hard surfaces, blending upholstery colors, and adding subtle contrast to neutral walls. 
3. Create Variety: There is no decorating rule stating only one area rug is allowed per room. Using two rugs of the same size can create the illusion of separate spaces. When you use two different-sized area rugs, it adds a sense of diversity to the room.
4. Focal Point: Since an area rug makes an impact by creating visual diversity, they are famous for creating a focal point in the room. Use a contrasting color or an intricate pattern to subtly create a point of focus in your decor.
5. Add Harmony: The color, style and shape of an area rug can effectively blend a room's decor and create a pleasant harmony to the entire space. Muted tones, without patterns which are complementary to your home furnishings, are a great way to establish harmony.

Area rugs can be used to brighten, soften, or coordinate your home decor. If you are searching for great community living in Flagstaff apartments, contact us to discover the country club amenities at Butterfield apartment homes.

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Whether you're a beginning cook or you've been cooking for years, you know the value of fresh herbs in your dishes. They add nutrition and savory goodness with every bite. 

Let's take a look at 5 recipes that use fresh herbs:

Basil in Pesto

When you're planning to cook in your Flagstaff apartments, few things are more enticing than fresh pesto and bread. You'll need fresh basil leaves, Romano cheese, olive oil, pine nuts, garlic cloves, salt and black pepper. You can eat it with crackers, bread or spread it on your favorite turkey sandwich.

Parsley in Soups

Fresh parsley is a tasty addition to any soup. Parsley complements chicken, beef, pork, vegetables and most any other spice. The next time you're making soup, toss in shredded fresh parsley leaves for added nutrition and flavor. 

Cilantro in Spicy Chicken Coconut Curry

If your palate is one to crave spicy foods, try adding cilantro to a spicy chicken coconut curry dish. While the original dish is satisfying, cilantro can bump it up to the next level. 

Rosemary in Mashed Potatoes

The next time you mash up some potatoes, throw some fresh rosemary in the mix. For best results, add it at the halfway cooking mark. Rosemary offers nutritional benefits with a pleasant earthy flavor. 

Lavender in Yogurt

This one may seem a little odd, but it's really good if you're a lavender fan. And if you're up for an adventure, try adding fresh lavender to your morning yogurt. Top with a few blueberries, a drizzle of honey and sprinkle of cinnamon, and your breakfast is set. 

Fresh Herbs in Flagstaff

Whether harvesting them from your own indoor flowerpot or picking them up at the farmers market, fresh herbs are a must-have in any kitchen setting. If you'll be cooking with fresh herbs in the Flagstaff area, check us out at Butterfield Apartments today. 

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